On the first day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…a Horus Heresy short story by Guy Haley. The Final Compliance of Sixty-Three Fourteen takes a look at how a compliant world might react to Horus as he returns to to demand its fealty, claiming the Imperial Truth to be a lie. As the Sons of Horus fleet hangs in orbit as a blunt threat, and their emissaries wait impatiently, the Imperial governor must choose whether to turn away from The Emperor or defy Horus.

Written with Guy Haley’s usual skill and eye for detail this is short but sweet, looking at Horus’ actions from the perspective of an ordinary human in order to show just how powerless the rest of the Imperium must have felt when faced with the legions. It’s good to be reminded sometimes that while the Heresy began as a war between the Space Marines it affected everyone in the Imperium, and this story demonstrates that you don’t necessarily need Space Marines to make a powerful statement. Quiet and character-driven, despite an absence of bullets or blood it adds to the depth of the Heresy and makes for a thought-provoking read.